The World Bank Board of Executive
Directors has yesterday approved dishing
out USD25 million to boost the
productivity of Tanzanias agriculture
sector through timely delivery of seeds and fertilisers to 300,000 farmers, and additional financing of USD30 million to
enable farmers access the latest
knowledge of agricultural, farming
technology and irrigation infrastructure.
A statement availed to this paper from
the World Bank said the funds will be provided by the International
Development Association, which helps
the worlds poorest countries by providing loans (referred to as credits) and grants to run projects and
programmes which would boost their
economic growth, reduce poverty, and improve poor peoples lives.
The funding comes at a time of rising grain and fertiliser prices; this is why
investments in rural farms are needed to help smallholder farmers get inputs, extension services and access to local
infrastructures.
The statement said the financing will support seed and fertiliser subsidies under Tanzanias flagship National
Agricultural Input Voucher Scheme
(NAIVS) that has already distributed over
15 million vouchers to over 2.5 million farm households, enabling the purchase
and application of more than 500,000 tonnes of fertiliser and 50,000 tonnes of
improved seed.
These inputs have increased production
to 1.5 million tonnes of additional maize
and rice reducing the countrys
dependence on costly grain imports and
food aid, revealed the report.
The statement further said that the additional resources will support local
investments under the Agricultural Sector Development Programme (ASDP) to increase smallholder crop and livestock
productivity and farm incomes by strengthening small scale irrigation
development, farmers capacity building, service delivery and market linkages.
It said the programme has noted
substantial gains, including rehabilitation
and establishment of 120,822 hectares in irrigation contributing to a 48 percent gain in total irrigated area, which has led to a doubling of irrigated rice productivity. The number of farmers using improved seeds and farm
mechanisation has also increased.
Increasing the productivity of Tanzanias
agriculture sector is essential for the country to meet its economic growth
targets, boosting food security and
protecting the environment, said Philippe Dongier, World Bank Country Director for Tanzania.
This support is designed to help
Tanzania achieve the goal of five percent agricultural growth rate and give farmers
access to latest knowledge, technology
and infrastructure, said Dongier.
Agriculture is the primary economic
activity for 80 percent of Tanzanias
population. The Agricultural Sector
Development Programme (ASDP) is
Tanzanias primary tool for implementing
its growth strategy for the agriculture sector as outlined in Mkukuta II, the
national development plan.
Achieving income growth and food
security are closely inter-linked and both
depend on the sustained adaptation of
modern agricultural technologies, said Jamal Saghir, World Bank Director for
Sustainable Development in Africa.
Our support for Tanzanias agriculture
economy is designed to offset the risks
posed by spiking food and fertiliser prices and climate change by equipping farmers with the necessary tools to increase food
production to reduce dependence on imports and mitigate impact of climatic
shocks, he said.
Recent impact surveys indicate that the
improved seeds and fertilisers made
available by the subsidy programme
have increased average maize yields by
1.2 tonnes per hectare, and increased
average rice yields by 0.6 tonnes per hectare, said Tijan Sallah, World Bank
Sector Manager Agriculture, Rural
Development and Irrigation, adding, We
look forward to effective
implementation of these projects for the
benefit of all Tanzanians.
The Guardian Today.
Directors has yesterday approved dishing
out USD25 million to boost the
productivity of Tanzanias agriculture
sector through timely delivery of seeds and fertilisers to 300,000 farmers, and additional financing of USD30 million to
enable farmers access the latest
knowledge of agricultural, farming
technology and irrigation infrastructure.
A statement availed to this paper from
the World Bank said the funds will be provided by the International
Development Association, which helps
the worlds poorest countries by providing loans (referred to as credits) and grants to run projects and
programmes which would boost their
economic growth, reduce poverty, and improve poor peoples lives.
The funding comes at a time of rising grain and fertiliser prices; this is why
investments in rural farms are needed to help smallholder farmers get inputs, extension services and access to local
infrastructures.
The statement said the financing will support seed and fertiliser subsidies under Tanzanias flagship National
Agricultural Input Voucher Scheme
(NAIVS) that has already distributed over
15 million vouchers to over 2.5 million farm households, enabling the purchase
and application of more than 500,000 tonnes of fertiliser and 50,000 tonnes of
improved seed.
These inputs have increased production
to 1.5 million tonnes of additional maize
and rice reducing the countrys
dependence on costly grain imports and
food aid, revealed the report.
The statement further said that the additional resources will support local
investments under the Agricultural Sector Development Programme (ASDP) to increase smallholder crop and livestock
productivity and farm incomes by strengthening small scale irrigation
development, farmers capacity building, service delivery and market linkages.
It said the programme has noted
substantial gains, including rehabilitation
and establishment of 120,822 hectares in irrigation contributing to a 48 percent gain in total irrigated area, which has led to a doubling of irrigated rice productivity. The number of farmers using improved seeds and farm
mechanisation has also increased.
Increasing the productivity of Tanzanias
agriculture sector is essential for the country to meet its economic growth
targets, boosting food security and
protecting the environment, said Philippe Dongier, World Bank Country Director for Tanzania.
This support is designed to help
Tanzania achieve the goal of five percent agricultural growth rate and give farmers
access to latest knowledge, technology
and infrastructure, said Dongier.
Agriculture is the primary economic
activity for 80 percent of Tanzanias
population. The Agricultural Sector
Development Programme (ASDP) is
Tanzanias primary tool for implementing
its growth strategy for the agriculture sector as outlined in Mkukuta II, the
national development plan.
Achieving income growth and food
security are closely inter-linked and both
depend on the sustained adaptation of
modern agricultural technologies, said Jamal Saghir, World Bank Director for
Sustainable Development in Africa.
Our support for Tanzanias agriculture
economy is designed to offset the risks
posed by spiking food and fertiliser prices and climate change by equipping farmers with the necessary tools to increase food
production to reduce dependence on imports and mitigate impact of climatic
shocks, he said.
Recent impact surveys indicate that the
improved seeds and fertilisers made
available by the subsidy programme
have increased average maize yields by
1.2 tonnes per hectare, and increased
average rice yields by 0.6 tonnes per hectare, said Tijan Sallah, World Bank
Sector Manager Agriculture, Rural
Development and Irrigation, adding, We
look forward to effective
implementation of these projects for the
benefit of all Tanzanians.
The Guardian Today.
